Chapter 5 Lessons

"Werewolves have been around for hundreds of centurys. Almost since the beginning of time have werewolves excisted. Vampires, though created years after the werewolf, are sometimes described as the stronger of the two. In an ill-trained werewolf this might be true but one trained well by a master of their skill could easily bring down any vampire." Lydia read aloud from the book Matthis had given her to read. For the past few days all Lydia had done was read. Story books, history books, auto-biographies of old werewolves.

Rubbing her eyes she sat at the little desk in Matt's room where she had been allowed an extention on her shackles. Resting her head on her arm, Lydia looked out the window. It was a brilliantly sunny day and some of the mansion's occupants and their dogs were playing outside. Heaving a sigh, Lydia accutally wished she could join them even though they had kept their space from Matt's room and thus from her. Standing up, the girl stretched her arms far above her head and let out a groan. Too many days stuck up here, she thought.

The forest beyond the mansion looked lucious and green. Climbing up onto the enourmous window sill, Lydia stood and looked off as far as she could. She suddenly felt a deep longing that ripped through her chest and she let out a whimper. "Well now, what ails you today?" Matthias asked, walking into the room carrying a tray of food. The two had become relatively good friends and Matt had spent a few days sitting with Lydia and her edge had slowly worn down.

Lydia whimpered again, a little louder. "Ahhh...longing for the forest. I knew that." Lydia turned back to the window, heaving a sigh. "Why can't I be let out now? I've been good." "You haven't yet learned everything you need. A few more days of studying and we'll be able to speak to the elders in our pack and ask if they think you're ready." Lydia sat on the windowsill, folding her legs. "I want to ask now. I've read each of those books twice over, Matt!" Matt suddenly looked up from where he'd set the tray of food. "What?" Lydia walked over, sat down at the table sideways in her chair, eating a little food and heaved a sigh. Matt moved quick to her and, grabbing her chin, forced her to look up at him. "What do you mean you've read them twice over?" Lydia looked up to him, only maybe slightly worried.

"I mean that I've read them twice now. There's nothing else to read here." Matt's jaw dropped, surprising Lydia was he walked over to the huge stack of books. He picked each up and threw them onto her bed one at a time. "These books? ALL of them?!" Lydia let out a laugh as if she thought he was joking. "Yes, Matt!" she chuckled. "All of them." Matt turned to her, a smile on his handsome features. "Lydia...tell me. Who was the founder of this pack?" Lydia raised an eyebrow. "Celyn Reignier. You should know, Matt. He's your ancestor." Matt climbed onto Lydia's bed, looking at her intently. "And how many packs are there still active?" Lydia raised an eyebrow. "Matt what're you-" "Answer the question." Lydia sighed heavily. "In North America?" "In the whole world. All the continents. Exact numbers."

Lydia sighed. "Twenty-seven in North America. Ten in South and Central America. Twelve in Africa. Thirty-four wandering Europe. Fifty in the entire Asian continent. Eight in Australia and one in Antartica." Matt's eyes went big and a huge grin spread across his face. "Why is that important though?" Lydia asked taking a sip of the soup he'd brought. "Because it is. Believe me, it is." Matt stood up and began pacing the room, talking rapidly to himself. Lydia was finally beginning to grow dizzy before he stopped. "Lydia, what are the moon phases and what is tonights?" Lydia had to think for the briefest of moments this time. "New, cresent, gibbious, full. Tonight-I think-is a full moon." Matt grabbed an apple from the tray. "Precisely. And what about the Earth? What is the Earth to a werewolf?"

Lydia looked at him with a concerned expression. "Matt I think you need to get your temperature checked." "Answer me!" he shouted almost making her fall out of her chair. "Ok! Geez...The book describ-" Matt rounded from where he paced and lunged forward, one hand on the table and one on the back of her chair, staring her right in the eyes. "I don't want to hear the book. You. What's Earth to you?" Lydia blinked a few times, chosing her words carefully. "Earth is-beautiful to me. It's full of color and vibrancy. It makes me feel alive to look outside and see the green on the trees and the colors of flowers. And at the same time it's a protective barrier and a creul killer. It takes what it wants and leaves what it doesn't. It's complicated."

Matt didn't answer and Lydia watched his face, seeing his upper lip twitch. She was about to move away before Matt grabbed her wrist and threw her on the bed. Surprised, Lydia did the only thing she could think of. Run. She squirmed away from him before he grabbed her ankle in a death grip and unlocked the iron around her ankle. She sat up as Matt stood. "What are you doing?" she asked though the meaning was evident. "I'm taking you to the elders." Grabbing her wrist again, Matt forced Lydia to her feet and dragged her out the door.